Mum shocks the internet by transforming her old garden furniture for just £4
Sometimes all it needs is a good lick of paint
In a country where the sun shines for approximately three weeks a year, it is safe to say our garden furniture takes a bit of battering. It's dragged in and out of garden sheds, left out in the rain, 'attacked' by the local wildlife and goodness knows what else.
Related: Mum dazzles the internet with amazing before and after pictures using 89p cleaning spray
It’s not long before a pristine garden table resembles an antique, and not in a good way. To some, this might be a sign for a new set of garden furniture.
But who really wants to spend a fortune buying new stuff for those rare sunny days?
If this thought has ever crossed your mind, listen up because a Mum from Glasgow has found the solution. The best news is it’ll only cost £4!
Posting on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook, Laura Carroll showed off her impressive before and after shots of a mottled green plastic table that was left looking as good as new, thanks to a can of Rust-Oleum spray paint.
Writing underneath her post she revealed: ‘This stuff is amazing, it took me 5 minutes to do 2 coats and it makes my garden furniture look brand new again (aside from a couple of drips where I was too close with the spray paint.)
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Her post attracted over 249 likes and 71 comments, with many wondering if this would work on other marked white surfaces. From freezer handles to sun-bleached bath panels, a few layers of Rust-Oleum Direct to Plastic spray paint should have them looking spick and span.
One group member commented: ‘This is fab we got it from Homebase and used it to freshen up our window sills.’
Rust-oleum spray paint
Laura Carroll had snapped up her can of Rust-Oleum spray paint for just £4 at her local hardware shop, but shoppers pointed out that it was available at Homebase and B&Q, too. However, if you can’t get to either of those it’s also available on Amazon at a price of £8.25.
Buy: Rust-Oleum 400ml Direct to Plastic Spray, £8.25, Amazon
The spray requires no primer and can be applied directly onto the plastic. Just give your chosen surface a quick clean before applying in an even layer and topping up if needed with a second coat.
You should be left with a glossy white finish that should still wipe clean and durable.
Related: Garden seating ideas for your outdoor living room
Will, you been upcycling any of your furniture this summer?
Rebecca Knight has been the Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2025; previously, she was the Deputy Digital Editor from 2022. She has a Master's degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London and has been writing about homes and interiors for 7 years. Her expertise lies in DIY projects, home decor trends and spotting the latest high street homeware buys that are about to go viral. She bought her first home in London last year and is currently renovating it (on a budget).